Steve Jobs: Died Buddhist, Raised Lutheran
Apple innovator Steve Jobs passed away Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The question of Jobs' faith has been a hot topic since news of his death was announced.
Many have asked whether he was a Buddhist or an atheist, and have also questioned whether he was a Christian.
In fact, Jobs' was a self-professed Buddhist in the later years of his life.
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However, reports have also revealed that Jobs was baptized Christian and raised Lutheran.
About.com columnist, Scott P. Richert notes that Jobs was baptized Christian and confirmed in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in his October 6 op-ed, The Christian Vision of Steve Jobs.
Referencing Jobs' commencement speech to the 2005 graduating class of Stanford University, Richert suggests that despite his Buddhist beliefs, Jobs was still inspired by his Christian upbringing.
"Steve Jobs' Stanford commencement address does not read like a Buddhist manifesto. There is something about it that, if not intentionally Christian, is at least consonant with the best of Christian teaching. I like to think that, when Jobs was composing it, the lessons of his Lutheran catechism kept bubbling up in his mind," Richert wrote.
"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there... Death is very likely the single best invention of Life," Jobs said during his speech.
Paul McCain of Christian blog, CyberBrethren stated in his op-ed about Jobs' passing that his confirmation classes were taught by Rev. Dr. Martin Taddey, who was known for being the pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, California.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod spoke with The Christian Post and has stated that they are currently attempting to confirm whether or not Jobs was a member of their church.
Officials from the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church were unavailable for comment.
